Kankata

Japanese: 管方 - かんかた

A general term for instrumentalists in gagaku, especially bugaku. Bugaku is generally accompanied by three instruments: the sho, hichiriki, and flute (ryuteki or koma flute), and three drums: the katsuko (or sannotsuzumi), gong, and taiko. However, instrumentalists in bugaku, including percussionists, are called kanakata. The performers sit on chairs at the back of the stage, from right to left, playing the katsuko (or sannotsuzumi), sho, hichiriki, and flute. In addition, a pair of large drums (daidaiko) and large gongs (daishoko) are placed on each side of the stage, and the left instrument is played standing up during the left dance (samai), and the right instrument is played standing up during the right dance (umai).

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

雅楽，特に舞楽の場合の楽器奏者の総称。舞楽の伴奏には，一般に笙･篳篥（ひちりき）･笛(竜笛あるいは高麗（こま）笛)の三管と，羯鼓（かつこ）(あるいは三ノ鼓)･鉦鼓･太鼓の三鼓が用いられるが，打楽器奏者も含め，舞楽のときの楽器奏者を管方と呼ぶ。舞台後方に，向かって右から羯鼓(あるいは三ノ鼓)，笙，篳篥，笛の順に椅子に座って演奏する。また，舞台の左右には大太鼓（だだいこ）と大鉦鼓（だいしようこ）が一対ずつ置かれ，左舞（さまい）のときは左側，右舞（うまい）のときは右側の楽器を立って打つ。

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